Ah. Alsalem et al., ELECTIVE, POSTOPERATIVE VENTILATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA AND TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA, Pediatric surgery international, 12(4), 1997, pp. 261-263
The management of esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesoph
ageal fistula (TEF) has undergone many changes. As a result of recent
advances in neonatal intensive care and pediatric anesthesia, the surv
ival of infants with EA and TEF has improved markedly, but the occurre
nce of anastomotic complications has remained constant. To overcome th
is problem, various techniques and suture materials have been used. Th
is review of 20 consecutive cases of EA/TEF stresses the importance an
d influence of non-reversal of anesthesia, paralysis, and elective ven
tilation for protection of the esophageal anastomosis following repair
of EA and TEF.